LIFE–CYCLE COMPARISON OF THE HALL–HEROULT PROCESS, INERT ELECTRODES, AND ENERGY SUPPLY IN ALUMINUM PRODUCTION

A final "best-case" scenario uses hydropower data as the power source for alumina refinement (shown in electrolysis) .The results reveal that the energy mix dominates the impact on the ecological footprint in the earlier refinement and electrolysis stages. According to Haupin and Kvande (2...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Acta Technica Corvininesis 2023-10, Vol.16 (4), p.25-30
Main Authors: Bronkema, Bethany, Sævarsdóttir, Gudr&uacuten, Finger, David C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acidification
Alumina
Aluminum
Aluminum oxide
Carbon dioxide
Carbon footprint
Cathodes
Cost control
Electricity
Electrodes
Electrolysis
Electrolytes
Electrolytic cells
Energy consumption
Energy requirements
Environmental impact
Hydroelectric power
Inert anodes
Manufacturing
Metallurgy
Parameter sensitivity
Power sources
Sensitivity analysis
Software
Voltage drop
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Summary:A final "best-case" scenario uses hydropower data as the power source for alumina refinement (shown in electrolysis) .The results reveal that the energy mix dominates the impact on the ecological footprint in the earlier refinement and electrolysis stages. According to Haupin and Kvande (2000), it is thermodynamically possible to operate inert anode cells at 13.2 kWh/kg Al by reducing the anode-cathode distance and thereby reducing the voltage drop across the electrolyte. Around 70% of the global carbon dioxide emissions from aluminum smelting currently come from the high electrical energy requirements of the process. Of the significant number of options available in the software, six impact categories were evaluated: i) global warming potential over 100 years (CWP100), ii) primary energy demand (PED), iii) human toxicity potential (HTP), iv) acidification potential (AP), v) terrestric ecotoxicity potential (TETP), and vi) freshwater use. В Sensitivity Analysis Three main parameters were chosen as the subjects of a sensitivity analysis: the energy source, the method of alumina refinement, and the amount of anode and cathode required per kg of Al.
ISSN:2067-3809